Has the time finally come to erase the term outsider art? Its all-encompassing – and negatively perceived – character divides many people. I have personally been edging ever closer to this idea over the past few years. However, in perhaps a somewhat hesitant, cautious U-turn, I have been coming round to the idea of using the term outsider art more freely – in a ‘reclaiming’ kind of way. Rather similar to the way the term ‘disability arts’ has been reclaimed. If we are able to reclaim and redefine the term, it could be a powerful vessel through which we can promote work by artists outside of the mainstream. It could be the basis of a community which includes people from all over the world, from a huge number of different cultures and backgrounds. For artists who work predominantly alone, or artists who are not linked to a wider art community or…

Coming to London in November 2015 is ‘A Discerning Eye: Highlights of the Henry Boxer Collection.’

I for one am very excited for this exhibition, which will be held at Orleans House Gallery in Richmond, London. The exhibition will showcase an extraordinary array of artistic gems from Henry Boxer’s personal and gallery collection, amassed over a 45-year period. Many diverse, intense, unusual and gifted artists are featured. This exhibition will include the work of Mehrdad Rashidi, whose work you can see pictured here.

Other artists featured will include:

The Edwardian portrayer of mad cats, Louis Wain

The mediumistic Madge Gill

The visionary depicter of resurrections, Donald Pass

Savant artists Stephen Wiltshire and George Widener

Occultist Austin Spare

Illustrator and author Mervyn Peake

Berlin Dadaist George Grosz.

More information to follow closer to the date – It opens 14 November 2015

Two new exhibitions opening in Brighton this weekend illustrate the fantastic work being created by artists represented on the Outside In website. Both exhibitions are taking place during May – famously ‘Brighton Festival’ month. One is in partnership with HOUSE Festival 2015; the visual arts arm of Brighton Festival, and the other in collaboration with Brighton’s Artists Open Houses, another Festival related endeavour which sees artists of Brighton and Hove throw open the front doors of their homes.

‘Intuitive Visions: Shifting the Margins’

‘Intuitive Visions: Shifting the Margins’, in collaboration with HOUSE 2015, will take place at Phoenix Brighton from 3 – 31 May, showcasing the work of nine Outside In artists: Aradne, Blair McCormick, John Ackhurst, Jonathan Kenneth William Pettitt, Luc Raesmith, Martin Phillimore, Michelle Roberts, Paul Bellingham and Sally Ward. Curated by Katy Norris, curator at Pallant…

Out of the Way is a solo exhibition by Terence Wilde featuring a selection of both his monochrome art work as well as his more colourful works. It shows Terence’s spiritual journey, both on and off the path of life. It is on at Matthew’s Yard, Croydon, London until 27 April 2015.

I went along to his private view on Saturday 11 April and what a buzzy atmosphere I was met with. Not only had people come along on a beautiful and warm spring evening, but also it being a Saturday evening showed that people had a real interest in coming along to see the art work and to meet the artist himself. Selling seven works across the evening was a fantastic achievement, with the art going to great homes including to someone who works for the charity Mind.

I may have made a cheeky little purchase of the above piece – but I could not resist! It marries my love of black and white work with my love of text in art – perfect!

Terence says of his black and white works that they are the true him. By this he means that his life and his thoughts go in to these piece and they are put out there for everyone to see. He understands that not everyone likes how raw these works are, so he also creates very colourful pieces of work in varying sizes, based on life events, e.g. getting tickets to a Kate Bush concert!

What makes me like the exhibition even more is that Terence tells me he hung it all by himself and he did not even have a spirit level – looked pretty damn straight to me!

His introductory text to the exhibition says:

“Creativity as a healing tool, emotionally to describe my world.Spiritually to make sense of, occupationally to work alongside.”

He also says:

“I prefer to let art speak for itself to the viewer, but if there are any metaphors they are of shadows into light and fears into freedom and flight. I have always been inspired by art when it comes from the heart – it makes life feel better and more manageable. Genuine creative expression helps carry us and make sense of things, as much as anything can do, it can even make us ,dare I say it, happy.”

Terence always has such a great way with words (and with art might I add!), so … catch the exhibition at Matthew’s Yard until 27 April 2015. It can be found off Surrey Street, Croydon, CR0 1FF, and it is a lovely little cafe space too – so grab a drink whilst admiring the wonderful art.

A couple of weeks ago, Outside In Manager Jennifer Gilbert visited the Woodhorn Museum in rural Northumberland to see a new collaborative exhibition between the Museum and The Arts Project, based at Northgate Hospital. In the post below, Jennifer explores the collaboration and how it has resulted in a must-see show.

Miners portraits drawn in pencil

A new exhibition has just opened at the Woodhorn Museum in the remote town of Ashington (only a six hour train journey from Brighton!). On until 14 June 2015, ‘Into the Light’ is the second collaborative project between the Woodhorn Museum and The Arts Project, which is based at Northgate Hospital. The first was a quilting project back in 1997, and the quilt is now housed in the archives in Northumberland.

‘Into The Light’ builds on the Woodhorn Museum’s commitment to presenting work made by artists who may be excluded from the traditional art world. It…

Last week I attended the first ever International Summit for Artists with Learning Disabilities at Project Ability In Glasgow. I have written on the Outside In blog about my trip and wanted to share it with you here … Enjoy reading!

Bethlem Gallery and Museum of the Mind in the grounds of the Royal Bethlem Hospital is now open! Many millions of pounds and movements of delicate works later, and the finished result is spectacular.

The BBC showcased a fantastic interview with Bethlem artist Dan Duggan and curator of the museum Victoria Northwood last week, which can be seen here. It showcased how powerful art can be for peoples mental health and well being, as well a the discussions this art can create. Victoria spoke about it being not just a museum and gallery to be visited by those interested in art or health, but by the wider public to allow these discussions around this field to happen and to break down the stigma that so often comes attached to it.

The above picture shows work by Bethlem artists Daniel (left) and Barrington G (right) in the Bethlem Gallery’s new exhibition titled ‘Where is the work in the work of art?’ Several artists connected to Bethlem Gallery can be seen in this exhibition, with many works offered for sale. At the Gallery’s opening last week there was a discussion led by an artist, the gallery Director and an OT around time and space – two keys things needed to allow an artist to develop and at their own pace. It was very interesting to hear from other artists in the room, as well as the way that Bethlem Gallery and the hospital staff support the artists through their artistic path. This all took place in the new dedicated studio space that the Gallery has which can be seen below. (When on the Bethlem Gallery website, do look at the associated events for this current exhibition, including the launch of Dan Duggan’s book).

The museum itself has a permanent collection on display as well as temporary exhibition spaces. There are some incredible works to see including work by Richard Dadd and the infamous ‘The Maze’ by William Kurelek. There is a fascinating film about it too, which is definitely worth a watch.

As the 2015 Outsider Art Fair in New York has just drawn to a close, I thought I would bring together some reviews that I have seen circulating. There’s a whole mix and once again the whole question of who is an insider and who is an outsider is bought to the surface … will we ever get to the bottom of it? There’s also still lots of negativity from critics surrounding this field of art, who clearly don’t understand it, and are negative just to hide it. One day lessons will be learnt …

Just as a side, an artist I work with called Manuel Bonifacio had his work shown on the Henry Boxer Gallery stand, which was a first for the artist and a first for the project I work for too, Outside In. Such positive news and a step in the right direction!

Anyway, enjoy these articles which will get your brain thinking. And maybe next year I will finally make it over for the fair … fingers crossed!

The fabulous Sue Kreitzman features in a new campaign by Selfridges, London called Bright Old Things which is on until the end of February 2015. Fourteen inspiring individuals are showcased who have changed their vocations later in life and each individual has been given a window to make over on Oxford Street – what a delight! For Sue, she was a food writer and broadcaster and now she spends many an hour in her art shed creating brightly coloured wearable and wall art pieces, as well as curating exhibitions! Below you will see some photographs of Sue’s window (bear in mind that it is the daytime and so reflections are bound to happen.)

Here’s a few questions that Selfridges posed to Sue …

What do you think caused your shift in career?
The menopause. Or I had a psychotic break. Or the muse bit me in the bum. In other words, who knows? It hit me like a bolt of lightning and changed my life forever.

How has your new career as an artist changed your life?
I am a different person entirely. All my passion and obsession for food and cooking had transferred to art, colour and gluing found objects to other found objects. Thank heavens, my passion for writing has not diminished. I now write about art instead of food. At this time of my life, I am frequently asked to write about age. Of course, I am not really an old woman, just cleverly disguised as one.

Do you think ageism is a thing of the past or something we are still battling with?
It is changing, albeit slowly. There is an old lady revolution happening now, and old men are starting to hang on to our coattails. The revolution is partly because of Ari Seth Cohen and his Advanced Style blog. There is now an Advanced Style film as well, and Sue Bourne’s film, Fabulous Fashionistas, made a huge impact all around the world. We now live longer, look better, and keep on working long beyond what was traditionally retirement age. It really is a new world, and I feel that I, and those like me, are pioneers in a brave new world.

As I opened my copy of the recent Raw Vision magazine (no. 84), I was struck by the little advert featuring the face of Charles Bronson staring back at me! Not only had I read a lot about this man in the press, I was now witnessing that he was exhibiting some art work in London, so I had to get along to see what it was all about.

Only managing to arrive on the day it finished, I wished I had seen it earlier to tell others to go. The venue itself was quite bizarre, and after standing outside for a while thinking it was closed, I realised there was a buzzer, where after pressing, I got let in straight away. A short walk around a series of corridors later, I was in a small room with rather dirty walls, a bizarre soundtrack playing and some art work hung a little too high. The strip lighting also made viewing some of the work a little difficult. But with all that said, the art work itself made up for this.

With most from a private collection and a few pieces for sale (with a few with sold stickers might I add) this exhibition really let you delve in to the mind of Charles Bronson … and what a bizarre mind he must have! Surveillance cameras featured very heavily in all of his works, as did himself in one form or another. Lots of winged creatures also featured as well as machines with heads and legs sticking out of them. One piece that sticks out in my mind had a syringe with legs leaning over the body of a man!

With prices ranging from £100 – £1000, it shows that people were interested in buying his work. His older works seemed to be a lot simpler in composition in comparison to his newer works, where he is covering the entire page with drawings, doodles and coloured pencil crayon. Lots more machinery and morphed figures feature now, as well as the names and supposed memoir books of other famous prisoners from Broadmoor. Another image in the top left of a drawing also stays with me … a cross like a graveyard stone, but with the words ‘free at last’ written by it. The word ‘arse wash’ on the machinery featured many times over too. Have a look at my images to see more, however please remember that the lighting made it difficult to take good pictures!

To coincide with the exhibition, was the launch of his biography ‘Broadmoor: My Journey into Hell’ which you can now pick up for £18 a copy.

You can read more about the exhibition here, but as mentioned it has now finished.